Sad day for me

[Florida Cracker2]

I came home from work and took out an old setup I had for over 30 years. A Mitchell radial guide system rod and Bantam 200 reel. This rod had the first eye from the reel on top and gradually staggered them until the last eye was facing down. I was casting from my little 12' jon and heard a snap that sounded like I hung up on a tree branch while casting. I looked and there were no branches to get hung on. When I start reeling in I felt what I thought was a bite and yanked. That's when the upper most 1 1/2 foot of my rod fell into the water.

I guess 30 years is about the life span of graphite rod. I had one a little older break while casting three years ago that was about the same age. So there you go...30 years is the lifespan of a graphite rod. Now I have to buy another rod. Maybe I'll wrap one myself...replaced many eyes, but never done an entire rod.

[Ben Miller]

Hey Bud!  Sounds like a celebration to me!!!  You get to buy a new rod and wow have they changed!!!!  I still have those special rods from my growing up, but never fish em.  

[MassYak85]

That's interesting to hear (and sad about t snapping). It seems spiral wrapped rods are starting to become more popular as of late, at least in the swimbait game. 

[Florida Cracker2]

Thanks for the comments. I have many new setups. Just that one was the cat's*ss to me. I need to learn to go gentle on the older equip. Those old rods can't handle 'snap-casts' and need to be babied. I'll be a little more gentle with the other relics I have. About spiral wraps...that was the first one I have ever seen and surprised that design didn't take-off way back then. Such a good design. Line never touches the rod while fighting a fish. I purchased one shortly before that one and was fishing the river bank and jumped down to the edge (4 ft. drop-off) to look for sharks teeth and petrified wood and after a little while heard a snort above me. Looking up there was a cow looking down at me. I stood up and clapped my hands and the first step it took was right down on my rod breaking it.

I went back and purchased another one. wished I got several.

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

Graphite doesn't have a life span it's just coincidence. If you have the sections the blank can be spliced by a competent builder. 

[Deleted account]

Acid wrap flashback

[jbrew73]

6 minutes ago, reason said:

Acid wrap flashback

Nice!

[Florida Cracker2]

I have always wanted to wrap my own rod from scratch. Now I will. Replaced lots of eyes, mainly on large offshore rods I had. 

[Florida Cracker2]

22 hours ago, Delaware Valley Tackle said:

Graphite doesn't have a life span it's just coincidence. If you have the sections the blank can be spliced by a competent builder. 

I always thought so, but two 30+ year old rods breaking with normal use makes me wonder. Of course here in Florida, temps get in the 90's and my equipment is stored in a detached garage without air conditioning.